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FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE SIDELINES FEBRUARY 2011 129

Miami, Reserve Grand Champion and winner of the Polo Open Futurity Class in last year’s show, owned by Melissa Ganzi

created a way to recognize two standards to grow within the show development: the very unique and desirable polo pony type, which is viewable in halter classes for all age groups and stallions; and the performance of young and seasoned horses which is viewable in the Futurity and Open Performance classes. Future goals and further development for the National Polo Pony Show include hopes to add a Breeder’s Select and Prospect Sale and, in continuing the mission to recognize horses around the country, create opportunities for host locations and individuals to apply for an APHA sanctioned show that will be tied to the National Show each year. “By providing trainers, breeders, owners and players a place to showcase their ponies locally and nationally each year, we will begin to recognize the quality and locations of great horses and industry talents throughout the US,” adds Sunny. “These shows will be opportunities for people in the polo horse industry to show their horses locally and gain recognition through an annual polo pony show performance points system.”

In conjunction with growth and exposure of the National Polo Pony Show, the APHA hopes to increase the amount of searchable information on their website, through visibility of registered polo ponies, their tournament and show records, stallion profles and the Polo Pony Library of learning opportunities. The future also holds a potential alliance with AQHA, to

mutually recognize the American Quarter Horses being used for polo at any level.

One of Sunny’s future goals is the creation of a verifable performance record system for playing and breeding stock similar to the AQHA and Jockey Club, that can be used as a reference point for breeding research and future sales. This winter the APHA will provide a list of registered horses playing in the US Open with searchable profles, as well as presenting and selecting the Best Registered Horse of the US Open Award, which includes a $500 cash award to its groom.

Performance Class Judges at work- Adolfo Cambiaso, Mara Haggan, Bart Evans

All photos by Snoopy